Protect-A-Bed adds game to bed bug iPhone app

CHICAGO — Want to kill virtual bed bugs? Try the new interactive iPhone game called Bed Bug Plague.Bed Bug Plague, developed by Protect-A-Bed, is a new addition to the company's free Bed Bugs 101 iPhone application, a comprehensive and easy-to-use reference guide on bed bugs, including how to recognize them, details on their appearance and the symptoms they cause.

In Bed Bug Plague, the enemy is a continuous rush of bed bugs that are trying to make it across the screen to infest a bed. The objective is to stop the bugs from reaching the bed by building towers along the path of the bed bugs.

As part of the game launch, Protect-A-Bed will offer participants a chance to win Apple gift cards by registering online at http://www.bedbugplague.com/game/. Each Wednesday until Aug. 31, one random registrant will win a $500 Apple gift card.

The game offers five playing levels, progressing from bedrooms to a dorm room to a rental property to a hotel - the latter two must be unlocked after a period of successful play. Users are able to play with or without sound and can post their scores to Facebook to see how they rank against other players.

Protect-A-Bed CEO James Bell said it's all about taking a serious topic and having fun with it.

"When we designed the educational app, we thought it would be fun to include a place where people can easily get rid of bed bugs," he said. "This is the only place where you have 100% assurance that bed bugs are gone."

The game is part of the Bed Bugs 101 app that is now available for free on the iTunes App Store.